Day 136

Rejecting God’s Prophets

Read: 2 Chronicles 23-25

Joash did well until Jehoiada, who had influenced him for the good, died. Then he turned away from God. But God was still very concerned about him, sending prophets to bring him and others back. “But they would not give heed” (24:19). When Zechariah, filled with the Spirit of God, spoke prophetically, they stoned him to death. As a result, God caused the Syrians to defeat Joash even though they had a smaller army. Joash was then murdered by his own servants.

Amaziah, his son, started out well. He hired soldiers from Israel to fight for him; but when a prophet told him to forfeit the money he had paid rather than continue his plan, Amaziah did so, even though he lost the money. The prophet had said, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this” (25:9). Whatever we sacrifice to do God’s will, God will restore, with more besides.

However, when Amaziah defeated the Edomites, he began to worship their idols. When a prophet told him how foolish he was, the king threatened to kill him if he didn’t keep still.

When Jesus spoke about Israel’s stubbornness, he referred to the fact that God’s people had a history of failing to obey the prophets. Finally, because they would not listen to his servants the prophets, God sent his own Son, and they crucified him!

PRAYER
Father, work in our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may obey your Word which is preached to us. In Christ. Amen.